Essay |

Howard Kelley

29 May, 2023

First thing one should notice in the comments section, mostly men blathering. Women have too much to do, they work at a job, still take better care of the house, and then do more of the child care. Second thing, this is the WSJ, hah. I will try and be short.

Parents of 3 adult sons and help operate a company with 6 adult males.

They are brutal. Just kidding.

My truths –

1) Least educated – have kids earlier – and their ignorance is bliss, just work more, try harder, they’ll push the same rocks up the same hill, and wonder. They are happier and take pride in struggle and would give you the shirt off their back.

2) Most educated – kids later, if at all – more organized, deliberate, selfish ish’ . They take pride as well … as they ask for another raise. They are under stress, tell you how much their lives cost etc … Wives match. They will not give you the shirt off their back. I repeat, will not, they feel they earned and don’t give easily.

3) Kids have always been expensive ish’. However, kids have never had it so good. Crazy money.

4) Demographics, post ww2 boom, lot o’ kids and expenditures everywhere, there can only be a let down from there. Numbers matter.

5) Education, birth control, 2 parent vs 1 parent households, inflation costs of cars, houses, education, yikes … Have them anyway, it always works out.

6) then corporate welfare vs people welfare, child care as care vs child care for profit. Healthcare. Good luck.